schools of vedas Flashcards
What is the basic difference between Orthodox (Āstika) and Heterodox (Nāstika) schools of Indian philosophy?
Orthodox schools recognize the authority of the Vedas, while Heterodox schools reject it.
Name the six Orthodox (Āstika) schools of Indian philosophy.
Sāṅkhya
Yoga
Nyāya
Vaiśeṣika
Pūrva-Mīmāṁsā
Uttara-Mīmāṁsā (Vedānta)
What do almost all Indian philosophical schools accept as core principles?
Theory of karma and rebirth
Moksha (liberation) as the ultimate goal
What are the two core principles of Sāṅkhya philosophy?
Puruṣa (Spirit) and Prakṛti (Nature).
What is the goal of Yoga philosophy?
To release Puruṣa from Prakṛti through physical and mental discipline.
Who is the founder of Nyāya philosophy, and what does it emphasize?
Founder: Maharshi Gautama
Focus: Logical reasoning and obtaining true knowledge through four pramāṇas:
Perception
Inference
Comparison
Testimony
What does Vaiśeṣika philosophy focus on?
Classifying the world into seven categories like substance, quality, and action, aiming for liberation through knowledge.
What does Pūrva-Mīmāṁsā emphasize?
Defense of Vedic rituals and belief in the eternal nature of the world governed by karma.
What is Vedānta (Uttara-Mīmāṁsā), and who are its key proponents?
A system based on the Upaniṣads, emphasizing spiritual liberation.
Key proponents:
Śaṅkaracharya (Advaita)
Rāmānujacharya (Viśiṣṭādvaita)
Mādhavācārya (Dvaita)
Name the three Heterodox (Nāstika) schools of Indian philosophy.
Cārvāka
Buddhist Philosophy
Jaina Philosophy
What does Cārvāka philosophy advocate?
Materialism and living joyfully; it emphasizes perception as the only valid source of knowledge.
What are the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism?
Suffering exists.
There is a cause of suffering.
There is a cessation of suffering.
There is a path (Eightfold Path) to cessation.
What are the Three Jewels (Tri-ratna) of Jainism?
Right faith
Right knowledge
Right conduct
What are the three main categories of Indian philosophical systems?
Metaphysics: Study of reality (e.g., Puruṣa and Prakṛti in Sāṅkhya).
Epistemology: Study of knowledge (e.g., pramāṇas in Nyāya).
Ethics and Liberation: Study of dharma and moksha (common to all systems).
What are the three Guṇas in Sāṅkhya philosophy?
Sattva: Purity, knowledge, harmony
Rajas: Activity, passion, energy
Tamas: Darkness, inertia, ignorance